Monthly Archives: September 2015

Driving through the rain this morning, I spotted a moving blob on the glistening paved road ahead. Squinting through my rain-streaked windshield, I initially feared it was an injured animal. But as I approached, I was excited to see that it was an unharmed snapping turtle walking ever so slowly across the road. “As a general rule, most of […]

Difficulty: Moderate. While the trails on the preserve add up to just 1.6 miles, the trails travel over hills and along a steep slope. For an unobstructed view of the falls, you must take a side trail, which is extremely steep and rocky. Use this side trail with caution. How to get there: From US […]

George Fields (via Facebook) won the “Where in the woods am I?” game for Mariaville Falls Preserve in Mariaville in September of 2015 given the following clues and photo gallery: On Sunday, Derek and I, with our dog Oreo, took a nice scenic ride to check out a new trail. I’ll be pretty impressed if […]

You know that guy, Derek, who I always to refer to as my “hiking buddy” in my blog? We’ve been dating for six years, and last weekend, we made our commitment to each other official on the shore of Millinocket Lake near Baxter State Park. The backdrop of the wedding ceremony was Katahdin, Maine’s tallest […]

I’ve been waiting for this… The Appalachian Trail Conservancy launched its redesigned website yesterday, and it sure is spiffy. The new website design features new photo and video content and updated information about the AT that can help people prepare for hikes of any length along its 2,190 miles, according to a recent press release by the ATC. […]

Difficulty: Easy. The short gravel path leading to the beach of the park is wide and fairly smooth, making it a good route for most types of wheelchairs and strollers. However there are a few obstacles. For example, the narrow paths leading to the beaches of the park were not constructed to be wheelchair accessible. […]

Difficulty: Easy-moderate, depending on the trails within the preserve that you choose to explore. Exercise caution on the trails that hug the shore, where you’ll find steep slopes and cliffs. Short sections of trail travel up steep hills. The forest floor is uneven in many places with exposed tree roots and rocks. How to get […]

George Fields (via Facebook), Lynn Robinson Braff and Deb Ludlow won (high five!) the “Where in the woods am I?” game for the Edgar M. Tennis Preserve in Deer Isle in September of 2015 given the following clues and photo gallery: A couple weeks ago, I visited a preserve that was home to some beautiful landscapes, […]

Difficulty: Moderate. The trail was a bit overgrown in September of 2015. It climbs Pleasant Mountain gradually, reaching viewpoints on the mountain’s slope less than 1 mile into the hike. How to get there: There are two trailhead options for hiking Pleasant Mountain because the Georges Highland Path travels over the mountain and leads to […]

Difficulty: Easy-moderate. The two trails established at the old quarry are less than 0.5 mile each and travel over exposed tree roots and rough terrain that makes footing tricky in some places. How to get there: Take Route 15 to Deer Isle. After crossing the stone-lined causeway onto the island, continue on Route 15 about […]

Aislinn Sarnacki

Aislinn is a Bangor Daily News reporter for the Outdoors pages, focusing on outdoor recreation and Maine wildlife. Visit her main blog at actoutwithaislinn.bangordailynews.com.